Fall Protection System

ABSTRACT

A fall protection system having two telescoping supports positioned at either end of a job location and having a crossbar extending there between that allow a user to work in an elevated position while also providing a tethering point to protect against falls. The supports may be coupled to a pair of conventional ladders that support a walk board, or the supports may directly support a walk board extending between the two supports. The two supports retain and securely attach to a horizontal support beam that is the anchoring location for a fall protection harness. A user may then use the walk board to perform installations or repairs above the minimum height necessary for fall protection and be secured against a fall by attaching via a harness and strap to the cross-bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/257,186, filed on Apr. 21, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fall protection systems and, more particularly, to a system for securely supporting a user engaged in building repairs and renovations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Falls are the leading cause of worker injuries and fatalities in the construction industry in the United States. Each year, between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites, despite numerous federal regulations requiring the use of fall protection systems. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that personal fall arrest systems will, when stopping a fall, limit maximum arresting forces, be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than six feet nor contact any lower level, bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance to 3 ½ feet, and have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a worker free falling a distance of 6 feet or the free fall distance permitted by the system. Many other rules and regulations govern worker safety and must be complied with to reduce worker injuries.

One approach to providing protection when work is being performed on the side of a building, such as during window installation or repair, is to remove the roof ridge cap or sheathing and install an anchorage to the truss or rafter structure underneath as roof sheathing does not provide enough support. This process necessary compromises roof integrity and can lead to future problems, such as leaking roofs and lost roof tiles. In addition, this approach requires that contractors have access to and climb onto the roof to install and remove the anchor system, which is time consuming and may require additional equipment not necessary for the particular job and location.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a fall protection system that is easily installed and does not involve retrofitting an anchorage to the roof or otherwise compromising roof integrity. Instead, a user deploys two vertical supports positioned at either end of a job location. The two vertical supports, which may be telescoping, are interconnected to a horizontal support beam that is used as the anchoring location for a fall protection harness or arrest system. The two vertical supports may be interconnected to two conventional ladders, which may additionally support a conventional walk board via ladder jacks. Alternatively, the two vertical supports may support a walk board affixed to the supports by moveable brackets. A user may then perform installations or repair while standing on the walk board and secured against a fall by attaching to the horizontal support beam. In addition, the horizontal support beam may be used to support a hoist with or without the walk board in position. Thus, the present invention avoids the need for extensive site installation and may be used with conventional ladder work system to provide sufficient fall protection and satisfy government workplace regulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a telescoping support for use in a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cross-bar interlocking system for use in a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of an embodiment of a ladder interlocking system for use in a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of an embodiment of a ladder interlocking system for use in a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the use of a walk-board system in combination with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the second embodiment of a fall protection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the second embodiment of a fall protection system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the second embodiment of a fall protection system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a system 10 for securing a user against falling while performing work on the side of a building, such as installing or replacing windows, repairing siding, etc. System 10 comprises a pair of telescoping supports 12 and 14 that are spaced apart and interconnected by a horizontal support 16, such as an I-beam, cross-bar, cross-member or the like, the extends horizontally when installed. Horizontal support 16 supports an anchorage 18, as a user-safety strap, wire hook, or cross-arm strap (available from Miller Fall Protection of Honeywell, Inc., Franklin, Pa.), that may be attached to or around horizontal support 16 at one and, at the other end, to a conventional fall protection lanyard and/or harness via a carabiner. Anchorage 18 may alternatively comprise an adjustable beam anchor that is fixed in place, or a beam trolley having rollers that can traverse along an I-beam serving as horizontal support 16.

As seen in FIG. 2, telescoping supports 12 and 14 each include a base 20 for firmly securing supporting 12 and 14 in place next to a building or other structure. Base 20 can include a footer or pad for improved traction, or include holes or other structure that allows base 20 to be pinned, staked, or nailed in place. Base 20 supports a lower member 22 that is telescopically engaged with an upper member 24. Alternatively, lower member 22 and upper member 24 can be integrally formed as a single unit, pivotally attached to each other, or interconnected via fasteners. Lower member 22 preferably comprises a tubular structure that houses upper member 24 is various states between a retracted position and an expended position. Although a retractable pin 26 associated with lower member 22 may be used with a corresponding series of holes 28 in upper member 24 for interlocking lower member 22 and upper member 24 in a fixed position relative to each other, it should be recognized by those of skill in the art that other known mechanisms for securing telescoping elements in place may be used. The composition and dimension of telescoping supports 12 and 14 and horizontal support 16 are preferably selected to comply with current government regulations, such as the fall protection standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that currently require that anchorages for personal fall arrest systems satisfy 5,000 pound tensile load tests.

As seen in FIG. 3, the upper end of upper member 24 includes a bracket 30 for locking to cross-bar 16. When horizontal support 16 comprises an I-beam, bracket 30 may comprise a clevis 32 that engages the lower flange of the I-beam. Clevis 32 may optionally include a spring biased pin 34 that extends above the lower flange of the I-beam after it is positioned in clevis 32. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that upper member 24 may be releasably attached to horizontal support 16 in various ways other than by bracket 30. For example, straps may be used, particularly if horizontal support 16 is rod-shaped, or horizontal support 16 and upper member 24 may interlocked using other known mechanical structures.

Supports 12 and 14 may be secured to corresponding ladders 40 and 42 positioned at either end of the job location. The distance between ladders, and thus the length of horizontal support 16, is dependent on the width of the work area or building and any applicable building codes or government regulations governing occupational safety. For example, OSHA currently allows for various maximum spans depending on the composition of the platform. Supports 12 and 14 may be secured to ladders 40 and 42, respectively, using straps attached to conventional ladder jacks. Alternatively, as seen in FIGS. 4, a ladder bracket 44 dimensioned to engage one of the stringers (or rails) of each of ladder 40 and 42 may be formed with or coupled to bracket 30. As seen in FIG. 5, ladder bracket 44 can be designed to engage a stringer of ladder 40 from either side so that supports 12 and 14 can be positioned interiorly or exteriorly of ladders 40 and 42, or used interchangeable with either of ladders 40 and 42.

As supports 12 and 14 are positioned vertically or at a slight angle away from a building, while properly positioned ladders 40 and 42 will have a standoff angle, ladder bracket 44 may simply engage the stringer of ladders 40 and 42 to prevent movement between supports 12 and 14 and ladders 40 and 42, respectively. In addition, a pair of ladder retainers 46 and 48 may be affixed to the side of the building where work is being performed and attached to the upper ends of ladders 40 and 42 to prevent movement of the ladders laterally or away from the building such as when ladder brackets 44 are used to connect supports 12 and 14 to ladders 40 and 42.

As seen in FIG. 6, a set of ladder jacks 50 and 52 may be positioned on ladders 40 and 42 to support a walk board 54 extending therebetween. A user may thus stand and walk along walk board 54 to perform installations or repairs to the side of a building or structure while harnessed to horizontal support 16. In the event that the user slips off of walk-board 54, horizontal support 16 will prevent user from falling to the ground. Alternatively, horizontal support 16 could additionally be positioned to act as a guard rail in lieu of or in addition to performing the role a fall arrest anchor location.

In addition to using support 16 as the tethering point for a personal arrest system, the present invention may be used as a hoist to lift virtually any heavy item that falls within the safety factors of the system. For example, system 10 may be used to hoist windows so that they may be lifted into position for installation or removed from a location. Similarly, system 10 could be positioned proximately to a garage and used to host vehicle engines, transmissions, and other automotive when performing repairs.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of a system 100 for securing a user against falling while performing work on the side of a building comprises a pair of telescoping supports 112 and 114 that are spaced apart and interconnected by a support 116, such as an I-beam, cross-bar, cross-member or the like, the extends horizontally when installed. Horizontal support 116 supports an anchorage 118, as a user-safety strap, wire hook, or cross-arm strap (available from Miller Fall Protection of Honeywell, Inc., Franklin, Pa.), that may be attached to or around horizontal support 116 at one and, at the other end, to a conventional fall protection lanyard and/or harness via a carabiner. Anchorage 118 may alternatively comprise an adjustable beam anchor that is fixed in place, or a beam trolley having rollers that can traverse along an I-beam serving as horizontal support 116.

Telescoping supports 112 and 114 each include a base 120 for firmly securing supporting 112 and 114 in place next to a building or other structure. Base 120 can include a footer or pad for improved traction, or include holes or other structure that allows base 120 to be pinned, staked, or nailed in place. Base 120 supports a lower member 122 that is telescopically engaged with an upper member 124. Alternatively, lower member 122 and upper member 124 can be integrally formed as a single unit, pivotally attached to each other, or interconnected via fasteners. Lower member 122 preferably comprises a tubular structure that houses upper member 124 in various states between a retracted position and an expended position. Although a retractable pin 126 associated with lower member 122 may be used with a corresponding series of holes in upper member 124 for interlocking lower member 122 and upper member 124 in a fixed position relative to each other, it should be recognized by those of skill in the art that other known mechanisms for securing telescoping elements in place may be used. The composition and dimension of telescoping supports 112 and 114 and horizontal support 116 are preferably selected to comply with current government regulations, such as the fall protection standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that currently require that anchorages for personal fall arrest systems satisfy 5,000 pound tensile load tests.

As seen in FIG. 9, the upper end of upper member 124 includes a bracket 130 for locking to cross-bar 116. When horizontal support 116 comprises an I-beam, bracket 130 may comprise a clevis 132 that engages the lower flange of the I-beam. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that upper member 24 may be releasably attached to horizontal support 16 in various ways other than by bracket 130. For example, straps may be used, particularly if horizontal support 116 is rod-shaped, or horizontal support 116 and upper member 124 may interlocked using other known mechanical structures.

Supports 112 and 114 are secured in position alongside a building by a corresponding pair of retainers 140 and 142 that can be attached to the building. Each retainer 140 and 142 may include a bracket 144 that couples to upper member 124 and a strap 146 that can be secured to building and attached thereto, such as by affixing nails through strap 146 into building.

Referring to FIG. 10, a walk board 154 is suspended between supports 112 and 114 by a pair of vertically adjustable walk board brackets 150 and 152 attached to lower member 122 of each of supports 112 and 114. Brackets 150 and 152 allow walk board 154 to be positioned at the appropriate height for a particular location and job to be performed, so that a user can easily reach the area to be worked while being tethered to anchorage 118. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that a user can gain access to walk board 154 through various conventional means, such as a ladder or pump jack. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fall prevention system, comprising: a pair of support members, each of which comprises a first section forming a base that is telescopically engaged with a second section that terminates in an upper end; a first set of brackets mounted to the upper ends of each of said second sections of said pair of support members; a crossbar releasably interconnected to said first set of brackets; a second set of brackets, each of which secured to an intermediate portion of one of said pair of support members; and a walk board supported by the second set of brackets.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user anchor interconnected to said crossbar.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said user anchor is fixedly attached to an intermediate portion of said cross-bar.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein said user anchor is slidingly attached to said cross-bar for movement along said cross-bar.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said cross-bar comprises an I-beam.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a clevis for securely retaining the I-beam.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a lock that may be engaged after said I-beam is positioned in said clevis.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third pair of brackets secured to the upper ends of the support members for attaching the support members to a building.
 9. A method of providing fall protection, comprising the steps of: providing a pair of telescoping supports, each of which extends upwardly to form an end having a bracket mounted thereto; positioning said telescoping supports at a predetermined distance apart; telescoping said telescoping supports to a predetermined length; affixing a crossbar having a user anchor to the bracket of each of said telescoping supports; and attaching a walk board to an intermediate portion of the pair of telescoping supports at a predetermined height so that a user can be secured to the user anchor while walking along the walk board.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said user anchor is fixedly attached to an intermediate portion of said cross-bar.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said user anchor is slidingly attached to said cross-bar for movement along said cross-bar.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said crossbar comprises an I-beam.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a clevis for securely retaining the I-beam.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising a third pair of brackets secured to the upper ends of the support members for attaching the support members to a building. 